Figure 1.-- Here we see a Christmas tree in an affluent family in the late-1920s. Most Americans did not have a tree as large as this, but it was a rate family that did not have a tree of some kind. |
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The Christmas tree is one of the most beloved Christmas traditions in America. It of course has European origns, even pre-Christian Celtic and German origins. It is not entirely clear how the Christmas tree became such an important American trrdition. It was not a tradition in early colonial America. The Puritans did not approve of Christmas at all, let alone frivolities like Christmas trees. Other Protestant groyps in the north did not have Christms trees or Anglicans in the south. Nor do we note Christmas trees popular among the Scotts-Irish in the backwoods. Although not well documented, it must have been German immigrants beginning in the 18th century that brought the Christmas tree to America. When America was more rural, choosing the tree was a matter of going out into the countryside and finding a suitable tree. As America became increasingly urban, the Christmas tree was purchased. And Christmas tree darms were founded to supply the demand. Some Americans still like cutting their own trees and some farms are set up to accomodate them. The cost of Christmas trees has resulted in many families beginning in the 1970s choosing artificial trees. Of course nothing can match the look and smell of a real Christmas tree. The center of American family Chitmas celebrations is mormally the Christmass tree. Families differ substantial on how they use the Christmas tree in their holiday celebrations. Most families make getting ad decorating the Christmas tree a family activity. Younger children delight in decorating the tree. Some families have special ornaments. Other families only set up the Christmas tree on Christmas Even after the children are put go bed. This was more common than is now the case. The presants are put under the tree, but younger children find this a terrible temptation and there is thelittle problemm of Santa. So gifts are are often hidden. The family then open their gifts together when the children wake up on Christmas Day.
The Christmas tree is one of the most beloved Christmas traditions in America. It of course has European origns, even pre-Christian Celtic and German origins. It is not entirely clear how the Christmas tree became such an important American trrdition. It was not a tradition in early colonial America. The Puritans did not approve of Christmas at all, let alone frivolities like Christmas trees. Other Protestant groyps in the north did not have Christms trees or Anglicans in the south. Nor do we note Christmas trees popular among the Scotts-Irish in the backwoods. Although not very well documented, it must have been German immigrants beginning in the 18th century that brought the Christmas tree to America. I am not sure about the earliest recorded Christmas tree. Many sources mention the German Moravian Church's settlement in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania as having the first Christmas tree (1747). The German Hessian Soldiers fighting for the Crown in the Revoutinary war are often cited (as having Christmas trees 1770s). Many Hessians stayed in America after the War. Almost surely there were Christmas trees in America before the Hessians. Grmans began arriving in America much earlier (throughout the 18th century). And the Germans were the largest immigrant group (19th century). We are not sure, however, to what extent the German tradition spread to other Americans by the beginning of the 19th century. One account describes a Christmas tree set up by American soldiers at Fort Dearborn, Illinois, the site of modern Chicago (1804). As far as we can tell, however, it was largely a German tradition until the mid-19th century. This changed when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert, a German prince. Prince Albert apparently introduced a Christmas tree to Windsor Castle for their young children (1834). There may have been Christmas trees in England earlier, but it was Victoria and Albert and their young family that ppularized the Christmas tree in England. The British were very infuential in America. Despite considrrable anti-British feeling in the United States, British fashions and cultural tradituins were very important in America. As the Christmas tree became popular in Britain, the Christmas tree evolved from a quaint German tradition to a a widely accepted American traditions. A first it was adopted in fashionable Easern cities. Mark Carr is cresited with bringing trees from the Catskills to New York, opening the first retail Christmas tree lot (1851). It was not long before there were Christmas trees in the most remote corner of America. Franklin Pierce was the first president to have a White House Christmas tree (1856). He apparently put one up for a Washington Sunday School group. By the end of the 19th century, only American familes in abject poverty did not have a family Christmas tree. Even many Jewish families had them. The first national Christmas Tree was lighted on the White House lawn by President Calvin Coolidge (1923).
When America was more rural, choosing the tree was a matter of going out into the countryside and finding a suitable tree. As America became increasingly urban, the Christmas tree was purchased. And Christmas tree farms were founded to supply the demand. Some Americans still like cutting their own trees and some farms are set up to accomodate them. The cost of Christmas trees has resulted in many families beginning in the 1970s choosing artificial trees. Of course nothing can match the look and smell of a real Christmas tree.
The center of American family Chitmas celebrations is mormally the Christmass tree. Families differ substantial on how they use the Christmas tree in their holiday celebrations. Most families make getting ad decorating the Christmas tree a family activity. Younger children delight in decorating the tree. Some families have special ornaments. The lights have to be put on first and this is usually dad's province. The lights at first were candles, but they had to be very carefully used least the house burns sown. After World War I, electric Christmas tree lights began to be a major item. Putting on the lights is more complicated than it seems. Some dads carefully put away the lights wen the Christmas tree is taken down. Most dads are, however, more likely to just jam them in a large box. (Outdoor lights are a whole other topic.) This means that they have to be untangled--easier saud than done. Other families only set up the Christmas tree on Christmas Even after the children are put go bed. This was more common than is now the case. The presents are put under the tree, but younger children find this a terrible temptation and there is the little problemm of Santa. So gifts are often hidden. The family then opens their gifts together when the children wake up on Christmas Day. This is almost required when there are younger children as they expect Santa to bring the gifts on his sleight Christmas Eve after they go to sleep. Then mom and dad have to be prepared Christmas moning when the little ones begin to wake up and head for the Christmas tree in their jamies. Then a little mahem could take place. Some families open gifts one at a time. Other parents let the kids tear into the gifts. Here the size of the family, age of the children, and parenting styles affected the approach. Countless family snapshots have been taken on Christmas day with the beaming kiddies showing off their loot. Almost always the photographs are taken after the presents are opened.
Chrisdtmas and Hanukkah occur at about the same time. As a boy, my best friend was a Jewish boy naned Peter. His family was not very religious. I remember tht he had a Hanukkah Bush. It looked like a Christmas tree to me. I had no idea what the difference was. We were not a religous family either, although I did go to Sunday school. The only way you could tell that our Christmas tree was related to Christianity was the mager scene underneath, surroiunded by my electric train. We had an angel we always put on top, but tht could just as easily be Jewish or Islamic. I'm not sure how common Hanukka bushes were. I have sionce learned that Jews disagree on the Hanukkah bush. Some who like the idea see it as a menorah look-alike, perhaps a rationlization. Other Jews who regard it as a sign of creeping assimilationist to the majority Christiasn culture. One source suggests it was most common among Ashkenazi Jews, suggesting that Jews brouf\ght the radition with them from Germany or werev most willing to adopt it because they were familiar with the Christmas tree tradituon. The Hanukkah Bush seems a destinctly American and Canadian tradituon.
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